Thursday, 9 July 2009

The good ship starchgreen

What a great day! The rather unlikely University of the Arts Alumni Summer Fete, held on the rather incongruously named Parade Ground at Chelsea School of Art (I'm intrigued by the idea of the trooping of the art students...). The weather was hot, with a sprinkling of rain, and the crowd were, well, arty. We sailed our Starch Green ship on the sea, we printed t-shirts, made books, iced delicious dog-shaped biscuits, arranged flowers, ate chorizo, chocolate ice-cream and strawberries, and helter-skeltered.

Polly had her nails painted with cup cakes - yes they are paintings not transfers.

Ellen made an origami chameleon with eyelashes. There were even dinosaurs roaming - and that's not just the older alumni.

STARCH GREEN is a small studio in West London, set up by artist-designers Jonathan Mercer and Kate Fishenden.

Our focus is on hand-made design, using craft skills to create artwork and objects that add positively to the pattern of life, balancing home and work and creating a feeling of well-being. Our strong commitment to family, work-life balance and applied art combines to deliver a range of distinctive pattern papers, illustrations, prints and products, and a human approach to design.

Our talents dovetail, both having skills in illustration, design and typography. Whilst Jonathan’s wood engravings are the source and inspiration for repeat patterns, prints and stationery, Kate brings in the art of silkscreen printing to create fine art prints and extend the work on to textiles. We collaborate on the design of products developed to enhance the pattern of life. Production centres around the Albion press in the shed, the kitchen table and the studio.

We also take commissions for repeat patterns, label design, illustration, bespoke social stationery and small print runs.

For more information or to arrange a viewing of the portfolio, please contact Kate Fishenden on 020 8749 6098 or by email.